Proposed Modifications to O. Reg. 525/97 (Exemption from Approval – Official Plan Amendments) made under the Planning Act to implement the Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017

This proposal works with the following other proposals that are also currently listed on the Environmental Registry of Ontario and Ontario’s Regulatory Registry:

1. Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017.
2. Proposed Modifications to O. Reg. 311/06 (Transitional Matters - Growth Plans) made under the Places to Grow Act, 2005 to implement the Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017
3. Proposed Framework for Provincially Significant Employment Zones

This proposal is for Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017. It is recommended that Proposed Amendment 1 be read in conjunction with the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017, as it sets out proposed modifications and makes reference to definitions and policies included in the Growth Plan. To assist in reading these documents together, the Ministry has prepared the Draft Amended Growth Plan which is meant to show how the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 would read if Proposed Amendment 1 to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 is approved.

O. Reg. 525/97 is a Minister’s regulation under the Planning Act that exempts certain municipalities from the need to obtain the Minister’s approval for official plan amendments under that Act. Pursuant to subsection 26(6) of the Act, the regulation does not apply to official plan amendments adopted in accordance with section 26 of the Act.

Purpose of regulation

The purpose of the regulation is to facilitate the proposed amendments to the Growth Plan that would allow municipalities the flexibility to make changes to their official plan to implement the Agricultural System for the Greater Golden Horseshoe mapping or the Natural Heritage System for the Growth Plan mapping before their next municipal comprehensive review, while ensuring that the Minister’s approval would be required for these changes. This flexibility is aimed to address the mapping of the systems that was imposed on municipalities in February 2018 that did not allow for a transition period from existing mapping and ignored work that had been done at the local level.

To do so, it is proposed that the Minister would make modifications to the regulation to remove the current exemption from approval which exists for official plan amendments that identify or modify the location of prime agricultural areas or natural heritage systems (i.e. the mapping) for upper- and single-tier municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe. This would ensure that the Minister’s approval would be required for any official plan amendments that seek to implement the Agricultural System for the Greater Golden Horseshoe or the Natural Heritage System for the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017 in advance of a municipal comprehensive review.

Exemptions from the need for the Minister’s approval would continue to apply to official plan amendments which do not identify or modify the location of prime agricultural areas or natural heritage systems for upper- and single-tier municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe.

It is proposed that the regulation would remove the exemption from approval for official plan amendments of upper- and single-tier municipalities in the Greater Golden Horseshoe commenced on or after the regulation effective date until July 1, 2022.

Other information

Questions about the proposed changes to the regulation, including the consultation process, collection of information and access to the consultation documents may be directed to: growthplanning@ontario.ca.

Feedback can be provided by

• email at growthplanning@ontario.ca
• Environmental Registry online form
• mail to:

Ontario Growth Secretariat
Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
777 Bay Street
23^rd Floor, Suite 2304 Toronto
ON M5G 2E5

The consultation closes on February 28, 2019.

Notice regarding collection of information

Any collection of personal information will be in accordance with subsection 39(2) of the Freedom of Information and Protection of Privacy Act. It will be collected under the authority of the Places to Grow Act, 2005 for the purpose of obtaining input on the Proposed Amendment to the Growth Plan for the Greater Golden Horseshoe, 2017.

If you have questions about the collection, use, and disclosure of this information please contact:

Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing
Senior Information and Privacy Advisor
777 Bay Street, 17^th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5G 2E5
416-585-7094

Organizations and businesses

Comments or submissions made on behalf of an organization or business may be shared or disclosed. By submitting comments you are deemed to consent to the sharing of information contained in the comments and your business contact information. Business contact information is the name, title and contact information of anyone submitting comments in a business, professional or official capacity.

Individuals

Personal contact information will only be used to contact you and will not be shared. Please be aware that any comments provided may be shared or disclosed once personal information is removed. Personal information includes your name, home address and personal e-mail address.